Conversion specialists Iturri have delivered the first batch of Landtrek VMTT (Vehículos Militares Todoterreno Tácticos) to Spain’s military, writes Bob Morrison.
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Procured as a replacement for the last of the early 1990s vintage Nissan Militar pick-up truck fleet plus the bulk of the Santana / Iveco Aníbal fleet of more robust military utility vehicles first ordered in 2004, the new VMTT (Vehículos Militares Todoterreno Tácticos or All-Terrain Tactical Military Vehicle) Landtrek is based on what many consider to be pretty much a Toyota Hilux equivalent designed in China. Supplied by Seville-based company Iturri, who in addition to producing military clothing and combat boots also convert a wide range of vehicles for public services, the Landtrek was chosen in late 2024 over a competitor vehicle from Linares-based Santana and a framework contract for up to 4500 vehicles was placed.
Background: In April 2023 the Spanish Armed Forces published their final requirements for the VMTT and although several companies had previously expressed interest, the quoted anticipated unit price of between 51,000 and 75,000 Euros per vehicle, dependent on variant, immediately ruled out many potential competitors. Variants of the Spanish-made UROVESA VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico or High Mobility Tactical Vehicle) Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV) model initially appeared to be an ideal choice for the VMTT requirement but the very low price ceiling, not to mention internal Spanish politics, appear to have contributed to this Galicia-produced vehicle not being shortlisted to compete against local conversions of mass-produced foreign civilian light trucks. The long-established southern central Spanish armoured vehicle manufacturing and vehicle conversions company TSD (Technology & Security Developments) proposed variants based on the Ford Ranger, but their bid was not successful and an appeal was subsequently rejected.
The Changan F70 Landtrek four-door pick-up truck now being supplied by Iturri to the Spanish MoD, on a base vehicle first developed in China as the Kaicene F70 and now manufactured internationally by the Dutch-based Stellantis NV international corporation, surfaced at the FEINDEF defence expo in Madrid in May; a different vehicle from Gibraltar-based AADS having been displayed at DEFEA in Athens the week before. Not currently marketed to the civilian market in Europe ~ it is aimed primarily at civilian buyers in South American, sub-Saharan African and Far Eastern territories ~ the Kaicene F70 is usually badged as either the Peugeot Landtrek or Fiat Titano outside China. Production, or assembly from kits, is currently undertaken in Shenzhen in China as well as in Argentina, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Tunisia and Uruguay by Stellantis.
At the beginning of July 2025 it was announced that batches of three vehicles apiece had been delivered to the Spanish Legion contingents based in the semi-exclaves of Melilla and Ceuta in North Africa, presumably for the customary preliminary user trials prior to the main batch entering service. Earlier reports announced that an initial batch of 25 Iturri Landtreks had been delivered to the Spanish MoD in the second quarter of 2025 with a production target for the year being set at 500. From images circulated on social media through official Spanish MoD accounts, it appears that the six Spanish Legion vehicles transported to North Africa were near identical to the four-door Landtrek pickup truck with cargo compartment hard top displayed by Iturri at FEINDEF 2025.
No data sheets were available from the Iturri team at FEINDEF and until official specifications are released we are holding back on quoting dimensions, though we do know from the published Spanish MoD requirements that gross vehicle weight should be below 3500kg (to allow driving on an EU car licence) and payload should be 900kg. We asked an Iturri spokesperson if there were any plans to offer the Landtrek for the UK MoD ‘Supply of Light Mobility Vehicle’ requirement, which has an estimated tender date of 01 December 2025, but our source told us logistically this is highly unlikely unless the latest tender date was to slip significantly; in other words, based on past UK defence procurement performance, never say never?
The Landtrek displayed by AADS (Africa Automotive Distribution Services) at DEFEA in Athens appeared to be merely a civilian specification demonstrator rigged to showcase a partner’s systems. Said to be a ‘Special Distributor’ for Stellantis, AADS is possibly best known for supplying vehicle conversions into Africa and the Middle East for Government and Non-Government Organisations and the United Nations. In Athens an AADS spokesperson told JOINT-FORCES it was unlikely that they would be supplying vehicles directly to the UK MoD (but reading between the lines I would not necessarily rule out the supply of Landtrek to UK or European vehicle conversion specialists).
Now that the Iturri version of the Landtrek has been formally purchased by the MoD of a NATO member nation, it should be relatively easy for any other Alliance military procurement organisations currently looking for relatively low cost pickup-based light utility vehicles to replace their ageing fleets to add this truck to their shopping list. That is, of course, assuming that the Landtrek VMTT performs to expectations once it is in widespread service with Spanish Armed Forces.
[images © Bob Morrison unless noted]
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